'Dancing with the Stars' debut sets all-time premiere viewership record

Last night's two-hour tenth-season debut averaged 23.9 million total viewers -- setting Dancing with the Stars' all-time premiere viewership record, according to Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings figures from Nielsen Media Research.

The premiere was also the second-highest ever in the Adults 18-49 demographic, where it averaged a 6.3/17 rating/share.

In addition, the debut represents ABC's most-watched regular entertainment telecast since November 2007 and, excluding the 2001 Rose Bowl, was also the biggest audience in the Mondays at 8PM ET/PT timeslot in nearly a decade.

Compared with last September's ninth-season premiere, Dancing with the Stars' tenth-season debut also increased by 6.1 million total viewers (23.9 million vs. 17.5 million) and 54% among Adults 18-49 (a 6.3/17 rating/share vs. a 4.1/10 rating/share).